Crime preventers held over robbery

KAMPALA. Police have arrested two crime preventers and a civilian on allegations of armed robbery in Mubende District.
Police recovered army uniforms and an empty magazine of ammunition.
One of the suspects is a coordinator of crime preventers in Mubende while the other is in charge of Nabingola Town Council.
Mr Norbert Ochom, the police spokesperson of Wamala region, said the trio wanted to steal money and a collection of items worth millions of shillings from a home of one Nsubuga in Nabingola Town Council.
“The three approached another person, who is close to the police to help them execute their mission. They wanted him to impersonate the district criminal investigations officer and then rob. He agreed and then left to bring a car they would use to flee the scene,” Mr Ochom said yesterday.

Trap
The person close to police, however, tipped off the district police commander, who organised his officers to offer a bait to the suspects.
Mr Ochom said the undercover officers travelled in the vehicle with the person who tipped off police to where the suspects were.
“That is when they discovered government stores (uniform) the suspects were carrying. We are holding them on charges of robbery, illegal possession of firearm and possession of government stores,” he said.
However, police detectives are still searching for the gun the suspects intended to use.
Mr Ochom said the suspects will be arraigned before court this week.
One of the arrested crime preventers is a retired soldier.
President Museveni recently transferred crime preventers from police to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces after several complaints from the public that they were involved in crime and unprofessional conduct.
Some crime preventers were accused of possessing firearms and police motorcycles.